Exploratorium Grand Opening

To celebrate Opening Day at Pier 15, the Exploratorium will offer free outdoor programming from morning to night on Wednesday, April 17, 2013.

>> Early Bird Freebie: Doors open at 10am – First 200 people get in for free.

At 8 am, artists in collaboration with the India Community Center of Milpitas will create Rangoli, intricate geometric designs made with materials such as sand, flower petals, and spices.

• Following a dedication and uniquely Exploratorium ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 am, the doors to the museum officially open.
• Throughout the day, Explainers, Explorables volunteers, and special guests will offer a variety of surprises and hands-on activities to those waiting in line.
• After sundown, Los Angeles artist Miwa Matreyek will unveil her latest work, a lyrical combination of live performance, animation, and video projection.
• At 9 pm, festivities will culminate in a spectacular visual narrative: a choreographed and interactive architectural projection by Obscura Digital.

Exploratorium Pier 15 Grand Opening
Wednesday, April 17, 2013 (8 am to 9 pm)
Pier 15 (Embarcadero at Green), SF
FREE

Please note that regular admission costs are required to enter the museum, but most outdoor activities and entertainment are free and open to the public.

Daytime Programs and Events

• 9 am: Opening Ceremonies
  The Plaza (invitation only; visible from some public areas)
  Mayor Ed Lee, Exploratorium Board Chair George Cogan, and Exploratorium Executive Director Dennis Bartels will give opening remarks. A bronze bell created by artist Nick DiPhillipo and cast at The Crucible, an industrial arts organization in Oakland, will then ring for the first time. Ceremonies conclude with the activation of Fog Bridge, an installation by artist Fujiko Nakaya.
• 10 am: Museum Opens to the Public – The museum will be open until 10 pm.
• 10 am until dark:
  Rangoli with Artist Purvi Shah and Volunteers from the India Community Center (Milpitas, CA)
  For thousands of years, Indian women have created elaborate designs called rangoli for auspicious occasions. This traditional welcoming design will be completed over several hours and remain on view throughout the day.
  South Apron of Bay View Walk
• 10 am until dark:
  The Plaza
  Outdoor Demonstrations and Activities with Exploratorium Explainers
  Explainers will lead hands-on activities for visitors waiting in line and provide interactive demos such as Observing Clouds and Finding North.
• 11 am–2 pm & 5–7 pm:
  Hands-on Activities with Explorables Volunteers
  Make classic tools and toys for observation, discovery, and play.
  The Plaza and Outdoor Gallery (ticketed area)
  
• 3–7 pm:
  KPOO Live Broadcast with Donald Lacy
  Share your favorite Exploratorium story with KPOO-89.5 FM listeners.
  The Plaza

Evening Programs*

• 8:30 and 9:30 pm – This World Made It Self (2013)
  Animation and Performance by Artist Miwa Matreyek
  As artist Miwa Matreyek moves behind the screen, her shadow becomes the protagonist in a fantastical world of her own creation.
  Outdoor Gallery (ticketed area; visible from some public areas)
• 8:30–11 pm – Emergence (2013)
  Art, Design, Nature, and Technology at Scale by Obscura Digital
  Internationally recognized creative technology innovators Obscura Digital transform the historic façade of Pier 15 into a spellbinding, visual odyssey through micro and macro phenomena.
  In front of Pier 15

*Evening Programs take place on both Wednesday and Thursday nights, April 17 and 18. They are scheduled to begin at 8:30 pm, although times are subject to change based on light conditions.